August Hatch-A-Long

[Sylviaanne]

Yes I did make it myself and here are a few pics. However I got the Hova-bator for such a great price, I think I spent more on the cardboard box. LOL

with the viewing window open


with the viewing window closed


inside view

Wow! It didn't sound like you had done this much when I read about it but that does look very nice. I like it. It gives me ideas on what to do for one when I want to make one. I have 2 Little Giants, one with air and one with out and I bought turners for both of them. It's just sometimes I want to put more eggs in than either of the LGs hold.

 

[Tazbeaux]

I just candled my eggs that I washed with diluted bleach water. They have been incubating since 7/31, first candling at day 2, to look for air sacks. Next candling was at day 8 and of the 33 that I washed 10 of them are the same today as they were on the 8th, the others have shown improvement or seem to have gone backwards. I did not check them on the 10th day nor the 14th day. Today is 15 days in incubation and I have had to remove 18 eggs. 18 from 33 and I don't know if they were not fertilized or if the bleach wash kept them from developing.

Does anyone know: if you can see veining early on but the veins seem to be gone later, can that happen? I was using a 101 lumen flashlight on the 8th and bought one with 360 lumens tonight. Is it possible to see veins with a weaker flashlight than with a stronger one? My notes don't indicate that I wasn't sure I saw veins, otherwise I would have put a question mark beside it.

I also have 6 eggs from under a broody in the incubator and they all have veining and movement in them. I have to look under her tomorrow and see if there are more than the 8 that should be there. If the other hens keep laying under her, I will have a very staggered hatch.

I had 18 eggs shipped to me, 4 of them were busted and their contents were all over many of the good eggs. I soaked the eggs in a warm bleach water solution for a few minutes then wiped and dried them off. Of the 14 that went into the bator I had 3 non developers, 1 quitter and 10 still going strong, due to hatch on the 21st. So I don't think the bleach water hurt them, especially since the eggs were shipped around a thousand miles.

 

[Tazbeaux]

What day are yours due? Mine are due 8/21.

Mine are due the same day!

 

[Tazbeaux]

I am just wondering - the one egg that has pipped slightly, should I leave that be? Will it have enough air in there?? Hope so! It's been about 17 hours since it cracked the surface - no real hole.

You might want to do a search for assisted hatching, I know there are some very good articles on this site but just don't have a link to send you. If it was me and 17 hours had passed, I think I would carefully try to open a small hole where it tried to pip through. But stop at the first hint of bleeding.

 

[Mamasaurus]

I think the extra warmth has done the trick, my pipped egg seems to be trembling again. I think I can hear peeping but its hard to tell with the birds right outside!!!?

 

[HugHess]

Ok but what happened to the other eggs when the chick moves them?

Hey Bryce,

Since you are in lock down you are probably 'stuck' keeping an eye on the eggs... are they sitting on the bottom of the bator or are they resting on something else? As long as fluff nut doesn't roll a zipper into a corner or otherwise block said zippers in a precarious spot, you'd think they'd be Ok?
Hopefully the little cheaper will be more help than harm? Best hopes for more healthy hatchers...

 

[darkbluespace]

I think the extra warmth has done the trick, my pipped egg seems to be trembling again. I think I can hear peeping but its hard to tell with the birds right outside!!!?

When I am listening for chicks I swear the birds outside are louder than usual!! It is easier to hear them after dark : )

 

[Tazbeaux]

@ Mamasaurus, EXCELLENT! What temp are you at now?

 

[Mamasaurus]

@ Mamasaurus, EXCELLENT! What temp are you at now?

Just a smidge over 100....no signs of life with the others but have been reading up on assisted hatching and...I'm just going to wait! Will wait till the sun goes down and the birds in the trees settle before I try again to hear any peeps

 

[Mamasaurus]

Oh Yeah!

I just saw a very definite wobble of my cracked egg! She hasn't broken through the shell yet and I thought I'd leave her till tomorrow before thinking of helping her out....but she seems to be doing ok, was just resting!

Still can hear no quackling, even now the birds have finally gone to bed...but I have been reading threads here furiously and I hear that other chicks have not made a sound till 24hrs or more after pipping, so I'm feeling better about it all!!!!